CAMP JUAN, Ilocos Norte — Two fishermen who sent a distress signal when their boat’s engine conked out in high seas off Ilocos Norte on Saturday have been rescued, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported yesterday. Senior Petty Officer Ernesto Floresca, commander of the Coast Guard Station in Currimao, Ilocos Norte, said Marcelo Gervacio and his son-in-law, Ralph Aldrin Delgado, both of Barangay Ablan, Burgos, Ilocos Norte, were rescued the other day by fishermen from Fuga Island, which is part of Aparri in Cagayan. Big waves carried the fishermen’s damaged boat to waters near Fuga Island. (Freddie G. Lazaro)

BETTER SERVICE

ANTIPOLO CITY, Rizal — To be an effective public servant, true to their sworn duty as government employees, city hall workers here have been required to attend seminars on strategic performance management. This came as the City Human Resource and Management Office started conducting a Strategic Performance Management System (SPMS) seminar-workshop. Employees, including department heads, program heads and supervising administrative officers and/or personnel involved in the preparation of performance evaluation were the first to attend the workshop last weekend. Staff from the social, economic and finance services followed in a bid to further improve city hall’s service to the public. (Nel B. Andrade)

PEACEMAKERS

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — Military troopers from the 5th Civil Military Operations Battalion of the 501st Infantry Brigade conducted a youth leadership training at a barangay here, once a stronghold of the New Peoples’ Army (NPA). 1Lt. Abdul Waleed Agcaoili said the summit was held at Barangay Dupag to unite the indigenous youth work for community development instead of entertaining thoughts of joining the armed struggle which is now becoming a thing of the past. Under the theme, “Kabataan Nasa Atin Ang Pagbabago,” 15- to 24-year-old youths gathered to train on peace-making, environmental management, and promotion of cultural heritage. (PIA)

N.G.C.P. ASSURANCE

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan — The National Grid Corporation of the Philippine (NGCP) assured yesterday that power transmission in Pangasinan and the entire of North Luzon are being serviced well. NGCP Spokeswoman Cynthia Alabanza said there is not much reports of pilferage or power outages in North Luzon as compared with the south where systems losses are a big threat to their operations. Alabanza explained to the Pangasinan media that NGCP continues to improve its transmission of electricity from the country’s power generators to the distributors in order to provide affordable electricity for every household. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

SUMULONG TILT

ANTIPOLO CITY, Rizal — Juan Sumulong, who may well be this city’s most illustrious son, will be honored tomorrow at the Antipolo National High School through oratorical and essay writing contests participated in by students. Rizal Governor Casimiro “Junjun” A. Ynares, III, and Department of Education (DepEd) officials will grace the occasion. The contest is being organized by the Sumulong College of Arts and Sciences in a bid to highlight the province’s heroes, promote nationalism and love for the Filipino language, and improve the skills of students. (Madelynne Dominguez)